By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 29 



marks of similarity becoming more and more apparent as we 

 advance : tlius the buzzards, tliough. essentially belonging to tbe 

 Falconidse, possess a heavy form, an indolent appearance, plumage 

 soft in texture, downy and loose, flight easy and buoyant, but not 

 swift, and (as the American Naturalist Wilson says), " they are 

 often seen coursing over the surface of the meadows, long after 

 sunset, many times in pairs ; " in all these points they betoken a 

 decided approach to the owls, which however becomes yet more 

 marked in the intervening family of harriers, for in addition to all 

 the above-named points of resemblance in flight, plumage, and 

 appearance, these birds possess the form of beak, and the peculiar 

 and distinct disk of close-set feathers, surrounding the face, for 

 ■which the owls are so noted ; add to this, that the skeletons of the 

 harriers and the owls show a close affinity ; as do their eggs ; and 

 in both the large aperture of the ear is conspicuous. Thus the two 

 families of diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey, the falcons and the 

 owls, approach one another by gradual and almost insensible steps, 

 so smoothly, evenly, and easily does nature pass from one link to 

 another in her great chain, so gentle are the transitions from one 

 genus to another. 



The family of owls may be divided into two groups, those which 

 possess horns, and those which have smooth heads : these horns or 

 ears are simply two tufts of feathers on the head, varying in length 

 according to the species ; which can be raised or depressed at the 

 pleasure of the bird, according as it is actuated by sudden fear, 

 rage, or excitement of any kind, or is slumbering in repose. There 

 are six species which I am able to enumerate as belonging to this 

 county ; the first and last of which are very rare, and only oc- 

 casional stragglers, the remaining four being sufficiently common : 

 but the largest owl of aU, the king of owls, the " Eagle Owl " as 

 British Ornithologists style it, " Bubo Maximus," Hihou Grand 

 Due, I regret to say is not entitled to a place in our Wiltshire 

 Catalogue. Of the six species which we possess, three are with, 

 the remaining three without the above mentioned horns or tufts. 



Scops cared Oicl (Scops Aldrovandi), very rarely indeed does this 

 beautiful little bird make its appearance in England, aiid then only 



